Silver Slipper
A former Old West-themed casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada, remembered for its large rotating neon slipper sign.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Silver Slipper was a Las Vegas Strip casino that operated from 1950 until 1988. It stood immediately north of the Frontier hotel-casino in what is now Winchester, Nevada, and began as part of Last Frontier Village, a Western-themed attraction associated with the Hotel Last Frontier. The property opened as the Golden Slipper on September 1, 1950, but adopted the Silver Slipper name later that year after Guy McAfee, associated with the Golden Nugget, objected to the original name and alleged similarities in design. The operators acquired rights to the Silver Slipper name from an existing Boulder Highway bar and casino. The two-story casino was designed in an Old West style and offered table games including craps, poker, roulette, faro-bank and a Big Six wheel, as well as slot machines. Its second-floor convention hall was reported to be the largest in Nevada at the time. Entertainment was an important part of the property's identity. Comedian Hank Henry became an early regular performer, and his revue developed into the Silver Slipper Stock Co., which appeared at the venue for approximately fourteen years. The casino also presented burlesque, variety performances, boxing and a range of singers and comedians. Its 400-seat Gaiety Theatre opened in 1966, while the Red Garter Lounge provided another entertainment space. Kenny Kerr's Boy-lesque, a female-impersonation revue, opened in 1977 and remained a popular attraction until the casino closed. The property experienced significant regulatory and financial difficulties. In April 1964, Nevada Gaming Control Board agents raided the casino over allegations that its games used altered or “flat” dice. The table games were suspended, although slot machines initially continued. The Internal Revenue Service then closed the entire casino in May 1964 over an alleged $70,000 tax debt. Later that month, the Nevada Gaming Commission found the management responsible for the dice violations and revoked its gaming license. The property entered foreclosure proceedings in early 1965, but the proposed IRS sale was challenged by the Frontier's ownership group, which argued that it owned the land and building. A leaseholder group led by Sam Diamond subsequently reopened the casino in October 1965 and began a substantial expansion designed by Martin Stern Jr. and Homer Rissman. Howard Hughes leased the casino's gaming operations in 1968 for $5.3 million. He had also acquired the neighboring Frontier, making Silver Slipper part of his Las Vegas holdings. It was the only casino Hughes held personally rather than through Hughes Tool Company or its successor, Summa Corporation. In 1970, Silver Slipper became the first Las Vegas Strip casino reported to employ women as table-game dealers. Disputes later developed over whether Hughes or Summa had the right to purchase the property from its original ownership group. Litigation began in 1974, including claims that Hughes was behind on rent. After Hughes died in 1976, Summa ultimately obtained ownership. Summa agreed in 1987 to sell the Frontier and Silver Slipper to casino owner Margaret Elardi. Summa continued operating Silver Slipper until November 28, 1988, when the casino closed during the ownership transition. Demolition began soon afterward. The site became a parking lot for the Frontier, with plans for a future high-rise hotel-casino redevelopment that never materialized. The Frontier itself was demolished in 2007, and both sites remained vacant as of 2024. Silver Slipper's most enduring symbol is its 12-foot rotating neon slipper, designed by Jack Larsen Sr. and manufactured by Young Electric Sign Company. Installed around 1954 or 1955, the sign contained more than 900 bulbs, plus additional bulbs in its bow. It appeared briefly in the 1957 film The Amazing Colossal Man. After the casino closed, the sign was preserved by the Neon Museum, restored and installed in 2009 on a median along North Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the museum. A later restoration restored the sole and insole to blue, reflecting the sign's earlier color scheme. Stories that Hughes acquired the casino specifically to stop the slipper's lights from disturbing his sleep, or because he feared photographers hiding inside it, are regarded as myths rather than documented explanations.
History
Silver Slipper originated within Last Frontier Village, a Western-themed attraction connected with the Hotel Last Frontier and owned by R. E. “Griff” Griffith. The casino opened on September 1, 1950, as the Golden Slipper. The name was changed before the end of the year after Guy McAfee, associated with the Golden Nugget, objected to the name and alleged similarities in presentation. The operators purchased the Silver Slipper name from a Boulder Highway bar and casino. The original property was a two-story Old West-themed casino situated just north of the Frontier. It offered slots and table games including craps, roulette, poker, faro-bank and a Big Six wheel. A large second-floor convention hall helped distinguish the casino from a purely gambling-oriented venue. Entertainment became equally important. Hank Henry's comedy revue developed into the Silver Slipper Stock Co., and the venue hosted entertainers, burlesque productions, boxing and variety shows. The Gaiety Theatre opened in 1966, while the Red Garter Lounge provided an additional nightlife venue. Boy-lesque, a revue led by Kenny Kerr and featuring female impersonators, became one of the property's best-known later attractions. The casino's early operating structure changed in 1956 when gaming operations were leased out. In April 1964, regulators raided Silver Slipper over the alleged use of flat dice. Nevada authorities suspended its table games, and the IRS closed the whole property in May over an alleged $70,000 tax liability. The Nevada Gaming Commission later found the management responsible for the dice violations and revoked its gaming license. Foreclosure followed in January 1965, but an attempted IRS sale was challenged by the Frontier ownership group, which maintained that it owned the land and building. Shelam Inc., led by local gambler Sam Diamond, took over the lease and reopened the casino on October 20, 1965. A roughly $500,000 expansion began in 1966, with design work by Martin Stern Jr. and Homer Rissman. Howard Hughes assumed the gaming lease in 1968 for $5.3 million. He also controlled the neighboring Frontier, but Silver Slipper was unusual among his Las Vegas properties because he held it personally rather than through Hughes Tool Company and later Summa Corporation. The casino became the first on the Las Vegas Strip reported to hire women as table dealers in 1970. During the 1970s, a dispute emerged over a purchase option and whether it could be assigned from the original leaseholder to Hughes's company. The original owners filed suit in 1974, alleging that Hughes was behind on rent and seeking to recover control. After Hughes's death in 1976, Summa eventually obtained ownership. In December 1987, Summa agreed to sell the Frontier and Silver Slipper to Margaret Elardi, although Summa continued operating Silver Slipper until its closure on November 28, 1988. The property was demolished soon afterward and converted into a parking area for the Frontier. A proposed replacement high-rise hotel and casino did not proceed. The Frontier was itself demolished in 2007 for another unrealized resort plan, and the former Silver Slipper and Frontier parcels remained vacant as of 2024. The casino's signature artifact was a large rotating neon slipper designed by Jack Larsen Sr. and manufactured by YESCO. Installed around 1954 or 1955, it stood 12 feet high and used more than 900 bulbs, with further lighting in its bow. It appeared in the 1957 film The Amazing Colossal Man. The Neon Museum acquired and restored the sign after the casino closed, installing it outside the museum in 2009. The sign's blue sole and insole were restored in 2018 to reflect its earlier appearance. Popular stories link Hughes's acquisition of the casino to the sign's lights or alleged fears about photographers, but the available historical account identifies those stories as unsupported myths.
- 2018
Sign color restoration
[1]The Neon Museum changes the sign's sole and insole paint from red to blue to match the original scheme.
- 2009
Neon sign preserved and displayed
[1]The restored slipper sign is installed outside the Neon Museum on North Las Vegas Boulevard.
- 1988
Casino closes
[1]Silver Slipper closes on November 28 and is demolished shortly afterward.
- 1977
Boy-lesque opens
[1]Kenny Kerr launches the female-impersonation revue, which continues until the casino closes.
- 1970
Women begin dealing table games
[1]Silver Slipper becomes the first Las Vegas Strip casino reported to hire female table dealers.
- 1968
Howard Hughes takes the gaming lease
[1]Hughes leases the casino's gaming operations and adds the property to his Las Vegas portfolio.
- 1966
Expansion and Gaiety Theatre
[1]The casino begins a major expansion and opens its 400-seat Gaiety Theatre.
- 1965
Casino reopens under Shelam lease
[1]A group led by Sam Diamond resumes operations after the foreclosure and regulatory crisis.
- 1964
Gaming license revoked after dice case
[1]Regulators shut down table games and later revoke the casino's license after finding management responsible for flat-dice violations.
- 1954
Neon slipper sign installed
[1]The landmark rotating sign is installed, initially on the casino roof.
Products and positioning
A Western-themed Las Vegas casino that combined traditional gambling with theatrical entertainment, conventions, nightlife and a highly recognizable neon landmark.
Gaming · 1950
Casino gaming
Silver Slipper operated as a traditional casino with slot machines and table games. Its documented games included craps, poker, roulette, faro-bank and a Big Six wheel. Gaming was the property's core commercial activity, although it was temporarily restricted and ultimately suspended during the 1964 regulatory crisis.
Entertainment · 1950
Live entertainment
The casino developed a broad entertainment program including comedy revues, singers, burlesque, variety performances and celebrity appearances. Hank Henry's Silver Slipper Stock Co. was a long-running attraction, while the Gaiety Theatre and Red Garter Lounge expanded the property's performance capacity.
Stage revue · 1977
Boy-lesque
Kenny Kerr's Boy-lesque opened in 1977 at the Gaiety Theatre. The show featured female impersonators portraying singers such as Barbra Streisand and Cher and became a successful recurring attraction at Silver Slipper for the remainder of the casino's operation.
Events · 1950
Convention hall
The casino's second-floor convention hall was described as the largest in Nevada when the property opened. It gave Silver Slipper an events and group-business function in addition to its casino and entertainment activities.
Controversies
1964
Flat-dice gaming violation
Nevada regulators raided Silver Slipper after alleging that its table games used altered or “flat” dice. Table games were suspended, the Nevada Gaming Commission later found management responsible and the casino's gaming license was revoked.
1964
IRS tax closure
The Internal Revenue Service closed the property in May 1964 over an alleged $70,000 tax liability. The closure occurred during the broader regulatory crisis and preceded foreclosure proceedings.
Brand decisions
1988
Close and demolish the casinoOtherBackground
Summa had agreed to sell the Frontier and Silver Slipper to Margaret Elardi during an ownership transition.
Action taken
Operations ended on November 28, followed by demolition and conversion of the site into a Frontier parking lot.
Aftermath
A proposed replacement high-rise casino was never built, and the former site remained vacant as of 2024.
1970
Employ women as table-game dealersStrategyBackground
Las Vegas casinos were expanding and changing their labor practices.
Action taken
Silver Slipper hired women as table-game dealers.
Aftermath
The property became the first Las Vegas Strip casino reported to take this step.
1968
Howard Hughes leases gaming operationsM&ABackground
Hughes had acquired the neighboring Frontier and sought control of Silver Slipper's casino operations.
Action taken
Hughes leased the gaming rights from Shelam.
Aftermath
The casino became part of Hughes's Las Vegas interests and later passed to Summa Corporation after a purchase dispute and Hughes's death.
Gaming-operations lease value. $5.3 million (1968)
1965
Reopen under a new leaseholderStrategyBackground
The casino faced license revocation, an IRS closure and foreclosure proceedings.
Action taken
Shelam Inc., led by Sam Diamond, took over the lease and reopened the property.
Aftermath
The casino resumed operations and began an expansion program the following year.
1950
Rebrand from Golden Slipper to Silver SlipperStrategyBackground
The original name faced objections from Guy McAfee, who alleged similarities with the Golden Nugget.
Action taken
The casino stopped using Golden Slipper and acquired rights to the Silver Slipper name from a Boulder Highway bar and casino.
Aftermath
Silver Slipper became the property's permanent public identity.
Recent events
- 2009
Silver Slipper neon sign installed outside the Neon Museum[1]
Other
The preserved 12-foot sign was restored and installed along North Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the Neon Museum.
- 1988
Silver Slipper closes and is demolished[1]
Other
The casino closed on November 28 during the transition to Margaret Elardi's ownership, and demolition began shortly afterward.
- 1974
Ownership litigation follows Hughes purchase-option dispute[1]
Lawsuit
The original ownership group sued Hughes over alleged rent arrears and disputed whether a purchase option could be transferred to Summa Corporation.
- 1970
Silver Slipper hires women as table-game dealers[1]
Other
The casino became the first property on the Las Vegas Strip reported to employ women as table-game dealers.
- 1968
Howard Hughes leases Silver Slipper gaming operations[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Hughes took control of the casino's gaming operations under a lease, adding it to his Las Vegas holdings alongside the Frontier.
- 1965
Silver Slipper reopens after lease restructuring[1]
Other
After foreclosure complications and regulatory problems, a Shelam-led group reopened the casino on October 20.
- 1950
Silver Slipper opens as the Golden Slipper[1]
Other
The new two-story casino opened on September 1 as part of the Last Frontier Village complex and soon changed its name following a naming dispute.
- 1950
Casino changes name to Silver Slipper[1]
Other
The property abandoned the Golden Slipper name after objections associated with the Golden Nugget and acquired rights to the Silver Slipper name.
Sources1 sources
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